Detection of Antibiotics in Rivers

Topic:
The master student is supposed to improve and validate a method to measure antibiotics in very low concentrations (nanograms per liter) using modern analytical tools.

Background:
Antibiotics are intensively used in human and veterinary medicine and are continuously introduced into the aquatic environment through different point sources such as wastewater treatment plants. Since the effect of these low-concentrated compounds and the risk they might pose to the environment is not fully understood, it is crucial to monitor residual antibiotics concentrations in human-impacted rivers (e.g. urban rivers).